Mozart's opera The Marriage of Figaro, which premiered in Vienna, was produced in late 1786 in Prague with tremendous success. The reviewer for the Prague newspaper Oberpostamtzeitung wrote "No piece (so everyone here asserts) has ever caused such a sensation as the Italian opera Die Hochzeit des Figaro, which has already been given several times here with unlimited applause."[2] The orchestra and some affiliated music lovers funded a personal visit by Mozart so he could hear the production. Mozart arrived on 11 January 1787 and was feted everywhere.
The world premiere of Mozart and Da Ponte's Don Giovanni took place in Prague on October 29, 1787 at the Theatre of the Estates, again with great success.
(The Estates Theatre was built during the late 18th century in response to Enlightenment thought regarding general access to the theatre, and theatres themselves demonstrating the cultural standards of a nation. The Estates Theatre was built in a little less than two years by the aristocrat František Antonín Count Nostitz Rieneck. In its first few years of existence it was 
known as Count Nostitz’s Theatre. The theatre opened in 1783 with a performance of the tragedy Emilia Galotti by the German playwright Gotthold Lessing. The building itself was constructed in a Neoclassical style and remains one of the few European theatres to be preserved in its almost original state to the present day. Its motto, Patriae et Musis (To the Native Land and the Muses), which is inscribed above the portal, should also be noted as the original intentions of its creator.
The Estates Theatre underwent several changes in its history. It first acquired the name Royal Theatre of the Estates in 1798 when it was purchased by the Czech Estates.)
known as Count Nostitz’s Theatre. The theatre opened in 1783 with a performance of the tragedy Emilia Galotti by the German playwright Gotthold Lessing. The building itself was constructed in a Neoclassical style and remains one of the few European theatres to be preserved in its almost original state to the present day. Its motto, Patriae et Musis (To the Native Land and the Muses), which is inscribed above the portal, should also be noted as the original intentions of its creator.The Estates Theatre underwent several changes in its history. It first acquired the name Royal Theatre of the Estates in 1798 when it was purchased by the Czech Estates.)
It is not known who built Bertramka. The estate had belonged to a Carthusian monastery for several centuries. The present villa was constructed around 1700 and consists of a large home with two-winged staircase and several outbuildings, all surrounded, as now, by a wall. It had been customary for the wealthy inhabitants of Prague to build grand houses for their relaxation not far from the city. These were often combined with agricultural activities. The grounds of Bertramka were certainly used for farming as well as vine culture. It produced fruit, wheat, milk, poultry and vegetables. The villa appears to have got its name around the mid-18th century from Franzisca and Franz Berthram of Berthram.
Bertramka was purchased by František Dušek and his wife Josefa Dušková in 1784 and for 15 years it was a meeting place for many great artists and noble aristocrats who gathered at soirées and social gatherings. Concerts were held weekly during the summer months. Those taking part
included Johann Anton Koželuch, Franz Niemetschek and Johann Nepomuk Hummel. It is highly likely that the adventurer Giovanni Giacomo Casanova stayed there.
Bertramka was purchased by František Dušek and his wife Josefa Dušková in 1784 and for 15 years it was a meeting place for many great artists and noble aristocrats who gathered at soirées and social gatherings. Concerts were held weekly during the summer months. Those taking part
included Johann Anton Koželuch, Franz Niemetschek and Johann Nepomuk Hummel. It is highly likely that the adventurer Giovanni Giacomo Casanova stayed there.Bertramka
Mozart visited Prague five times in all: three times for prolonged visits and, in between these, twice on passing through. He first came to Prague in January 1787 for a performance of Le Nozze di Figaro . Despite this opera having been a huge success at its first performance in Vienna in April 1786 the Viennese were already tiring of Mozart and turning their attention to other composers such as Antonio Salieri. Mozart was caught up in a lot of intrigues and he was desperate for money. This is why he came to Prague with his new opera. It caused a sensation and the Prague audiences were always to remain faithful to Mozart.
The Mozarts had arrived in Prague on 11th January 1787. His name was already well-known in Prague. Even the customs officer on duty at the New Gate asked, on examining Mozart’s passport, whether he was the composer of Figaro. On this occasion Josefa and František Dušek, who had met Mozart in Salzburg, were abroad and therefore unable to host him.
Figaro was such a success that the opera manager, Pasquale Bondini, commissioned a new opera from him. This was to be Don Giovanni. He returned to Prague with his new opera in the autumn, probably in late September. He had lodgings in the town, at “Zu den drei goldenen Löwen”, another property of Dušek. Today there is a plaque on the wall which reads “V tomto domě bydlel Mozart v roce 1787” (“In this house lived Mozart in the year 1787”). Here and in Bertramka he worked on finishing the composition of the opera. The tranquillity of Betramka as well as the skittles in the garden provided him with the necessary relaxation. According to Georg Nikolaus von Nissen he would stand up when it was his turn to play, and no sooner had he taken his throw than he would sit down and carry on working at his score.
Mozart visited Prague five times in all: three times for prolonged visits and, in between these, twice on passing through. He first came to Prague in January 1787 for a performance of Le Nozze di Figaro . Despite this opera having been a huge success at its first performance in Vienna in April 1786 the Viennese were already tiring of Mozart and turning their attention to other composers such as Antonio Salieri. Mozart was caught up in a lot of intrigues and he was desperate for money. This is why he came to Prague with his new opera. It caused a sensation and the Prague audiences were always to remain faithful to Mozart.
The Mozarts had arrived in Prague on 11th January 1787. His name was already well-known in Prague. Even the customs officer on duty at the New Gate asked, on examining Mozart’s passport, whether he was the composer of Figaro. On this occasion Josefa and František Dušek, who had met Mozart in Salzburg, were abroad and therefore unable to host him.
Figaro was such a success that the opera manager, Pasquale Bondini, commissioned a new opera from him. This was to be Don Giovanni. He returned to Prague with his new opera in the autumn, probably in late September. He had lodgings in the town, at “Zu den drei goldenen Löwen”, another property of Dušek. Today there is a plaque on the wall which reads “V tomto domě bydlel Mozart v roce 1787” (“In this house lived Mozart in the year 1787”). Here and in Bertramka he worked on finishing the composition of the opera. The tranquillity of Betramka as well as the skittles in the garden provided him with the necessary relaxation. According to Georg Nikolaus von Nissen he would stand up when it was his turn to play, and no sooner had he taken his throw than he would sit down and carry on working at his score.
